Clontarf maintain unbeaten run with Shannon success

CLONTARF are the only unbeaten team left in All-Ireland League Division 1A after Mick McGrath’s 78th-minute try secured a 22-17 win over a Jake Flannery-inspired Shannon side on Thomond Park’s back pitch.

Out-half Flannery scored all of Shannon’s points, including an opportunist second-half try and a brilliant penalty from halfway with six minutes remaining.

However, the 19-year-old man of the match’s exploits were not enough as McGrath’s score, adding to earlier tries from Tony Ryan and Sean O’Brien, sealed a late ’Tarf victory.

The north Dubliners have nipped ahead of Cork Constitution at the top of the table following Lansdowne’s 35-27 bonus-point defeat of the Leesiders.

Harry Byrne, younger brother of Ross Byrne, enjoyed a dream debut for the defending champions with 20 first-half points, including a slick brace of tries.

Adam Leavy’s 44th-minute try from a turnover bagged the bonus point for Lansdowne, who now have back-to-back wins after a tough start to the campaign.

Cork Con did not leave the Aviva Stadium’s back pitch empty-handed, though, as a strong finish saw captain Niall Kenneally cross for their bonuspoint score in injury time.

Leinster prospect Michael Silvester returned to club action with a terrific hat-trick of tries as Dublin University opened their win account, seeing off Young Munster 37-26 at College Park.

The talented full-back’s grubber kick also set up a try for debutant Liam Turner, with out-half James Fennelly kicking 17 points.

James Thornton’s 75th-minute penalty, on the back of Stephen O’Neill’s try double, guided bottom side Terenure College to a much-needed 18-17 win away to UCC, whose three tries included Murray Linn’s third of the season.

Young winger David Heavey claimed his first two league tries in UCD’s impressive 31-19 bonus point dismissal of Garryowen at Dooradoyle.